Author of the memoir, "Where Did My Life Go?"

Author of the memoir, "Where Did My Life Go?"
My FREE short story Memoir Available Worldwide on Amazon and iBooks (Click the Picture Above)

Friday, June 29, 2012

Hard Time on the 4th of July

Hello,
I will try and keep this short and sweet. I don't get my unemployment check until probably after the 4th and I anm currently broke and the homeless help center here in Miami Beach has been nothing but helpless. There are no beds available in Miami right now, which I don't have a problem with. I have a blanket and the cops have been cool with me sleeping in the park thus far. But I currently have 1.08 in my checking account and I need some help. I am not good at and can't bring myself to ask people on the street for money. I guess it's shame or pride or both, I don't know. But I do have a Wells Fargo checking account (Acct # 6658497117 ) that people can put money into to help me out until I get paid. I can even pay you back. But right now I have limited access to the computer and no current phone so I figured without anything else left to lose I would ask (sheepishly) online to see if anyone could help with just a couple of bucks for food and other stuff like bus fare. Anyway, this is no B.S. and email me what you want in return and I will do what I can at the moment. Thank you in advance, God bless you and Happy 4th of July!!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Catch 22 / Happy Father's Day

I'm still in Miami Beach. I thought I would have to go back to Key West in order to get my I.D. But as a stroke of rare luck happened, I didn't have to. The homeless helping place, which is not much help FINALLY saw me in park where I sleep and verified that I was homeless. They told me that there were no beds currently available, how convenient, and I told them my number one main concern was getting my identification and they said they could help me with that and told me to report to their office 555 17th St. to do an evaluation and intake (paperwork). So I went into the office the next day thinking they would get me an I.D. either that day or maybe the next. I was excited because I had received my unemployment check direct deposited into my checking account, my problem was, the catch 22, is I had to have I.D. in order to get money from the bank as I didn't have my ATM card. After my evaluation questionnaire, I waited out in the waiting room anticipating on getting my I.D. and the lady comes out and hands me a card with an appointment date of June 28th, 2012 and this was June 8th. They expected me to wait 20 days in order to get my I.D.!! Christ, I would starve to death before that happened!! And of course, that was their final answer and there is nothing more they could do. So I took the card and left disappointed and began to see what kind of options I had in order to get my I.D. sooner or get money out of the bank so I could pay for my bus fare and I.D. myself. I had money, I just could get to it. I have an acquaintance from K.O.T.S. in Key West who is staying in Miami Beach, Lefty, the one arm bandit, I mentioned him previously. I was searching the Wells Fargo website to see about ways to get money without an I.D. or ATM card and I came across a way to transfer money into a Bank Of America account from my Wells Fargo account and wooten you know it, Lefty had a Bank Of America account. So I had to walk from 22 St to 9th street to see if Lefty would be willing to let me transfer money into his account via the computer and then he could take the money out with his ATM card and I would pay him 10 bucks just to do that and he agreed. I thought, all I need is his account number, he had no problem with that and so he stayed at his shelter place while I walked back to the library to do the transaction. Of course, it was not that easy, I was having trouble doing the transfer. The computer wanted Lefty's mobile phone number or email address in which I had neither, so I called the bank and they informed me that that was the only way you could do a transfer to a Bank of America account. So frustrated, I ran (walked real fast) back to Lefty's place to get his cell phone number. I had to make it back to the library before it closed at 6pm. Lefty finally comes down from his room and I asked him for his cell phone number and he told me he didn't have a cell phone. But he did have one about a week ago because he gave Billy his cell number, I was there. I guess he was lying for some reason because after the fact he had a cell phone in the park the day after this incident. I guess he didn't want to make 10 bucks, I don't know or the phone is hot or something, whatever, it worked out. I went into Wells Fargo the next morning and explained my situation about losing my I.D. and ATM card and asked the lady if there was a way to verify who I am and thankfully there was a way. They just had to ask me a few questions that I should know the answers to and I got them all RIGHT!! So the teller gave me my money from my bank account and I went to the DMV to see if I could get an I.D. without a birth certificate. I mean what the hell, I was on a roll, let's push the envelope. And guess what? I got an I.D. without a birth certificate or anything. I just had to pay 25.00 dollars for the I.D. replacement card and wait for about 3 hours. Now how did I do that, you ask? Things that make you go hmmmmmm....Well apparently the powers that be at the Florida DMV came up with the amazing idea of storing your driver's license with picture and all in the wonderful world of computer technology so that when one does lose his or her license or I.D. your information and identifying picture is stored on the computer for future reference therefore eliminating the need for a birth certificate. Slowly but surely I am regaining all that I have lost. I now have a photo I.D. which help me get my food stamp card from the post office and I got a temporary ATM card and my social security card is on the way. Next step is to get a phone then some shelter (the shelters have been full in the Miami area) then get a J.O.B. I must say the Miami Beach cops have been very cool about people sleeping in the park, they just drive by on their ATV's and tell you you have to get up which is about 6 AM. It doesn't look good for the tourist to see people sleeping for free in the park while they pay ridiculous amounts of money for a hotel room although they do get amenities we homeless do not receive which would be a shower, toilet, T.V., room service or a dry place to sleep if it rains. O.K. enough of that rant..... I've been doing some research at the Main Library because they have telephone directories dating back as far as the 50's in which I was able to find a listing from 1969 for a golf driving range that apparently my father owned called Fred Sanders Driving Range which is at 1750 N.W. 28th Street in Miami. I'm no Sherlock Holmes but I put a few things together to determine my findings to be true and correct, to the best of my knowledge, of course. For one, my father's name was William Fred Sanders ( I also found out the date he died which was on October 10, 1970) For two, I remember my brother telling me that my father won the award for "Longest Drive of the South" in golf. I actually took the bus to that address and it looks like it was a driving range over 40 years ago, as it is now a huge open park with a baseball field included. While were on the subject and my memory still serves me correctly, I remember my mother telling me that professional golfer, Doug Sanders, is a cousin of mine, I don't know how distant. I actually somehow contacted his daughter through email and mention this mystery and she replied that he doesn't remember any connection due to his age......Happy Father's Day to all the Dads, I never got a chance to meet mine as he died from a gunshot trying to get into a cousin's house here in Miami when I was almost a year old, sorry I don't know much of the details. All I know from what my brother told me, the court deemed it a justified homicide. So please do not take your father for granted and cherish him everyday as I wish I had a chance but I never will get back my biological father. Fortunately, my mother remarried when I was 5 years old to a good man (tough as nails) and a great step father, Donald "Doc" MacDonald who past away in 2003. R.I.P......On a brighter note, I created yet another Twitter account in recognition of my new digs on the street in Miami Beach follow me @MiamiBeachBitch






Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Waiting For The "Green" People

I am still waiting for the "green" people. They are the ones with green shirts on that go out on the street and "verify" that you are homeless. You have to tell them where about you sleep in which I have. My main concern is getting my I.D. but they have informed me that I still have to go through this process and I have been communicating with the director of the homeless help here in Miami Beach via email and she wrote me yesterday saying that they went looking for me at my spot and couldn't find me and that is because I was at the library. The library is on 22nd and Collins and I stay at the park on 13th and Ocean Drive. So today I made it a point to hang out and mostly sleep in my homeless area but to no avail as no "green" people showed up. I awoke to 2 teen age kids who offered me some Lucky Charms cereal in a bag without the marsh mellows which I thought was kinda of odd but I thanked them and accepted the offer. They took off advising me to keep my head up which I thought was very cool and rare coming from teenagers. Not all but most teenagers are usually self centered, know it alls who only care about what they can get or what they have. After waking up from my 3 hour nap, I headed for the park rest room to do what I had to do and on my way there a Miami Beach policeman on a bicycle rides by me and says, "Hey, what's in the bag?" And I pulled it out from underneath my arm to show him and he said, "Oh, it's cereal" And I said, "Yeah" and then he told me he didn't want to see me in the park again. Which perplexed me and made me wonder why? Like I did something wrong and I had just been sleeping the whole time in the park. Anyway, the evening before was amazing. I went out on the beach to drink a beer after drumming up some money at Washington and Lincoln Road, this time I made 7 dollars. While on the beach, this black lady probably in her early 30's, waves to me from a distance and I turn to see if see was waving to somebody else and it was me, so I waved back and she came over and said she was bored and if I wouldn't mind if she sat down and I said, please have a seat and she asked me if I drank and I said I'm drinking a beer right now and she offered me some P. Diddy water aka Ciroc Vodka and I took a swig and man was that smooth coconut flavored, I didn't even need a chaser as opposed to the rock gut cheap ass shit Vodka I'm used to drinking. So we got to talking and she told me she was down on vacation from Atlanta waiting for her boyfriend to come into town on Wednesday and I explained I was born in Miami and raised in Marathon in the Florida Keys and I was currently homeless looking for the "green" people to help me get my I.D. I don't throw my situation out there seeking pity or anything like that, I'm just straight up and honest and she was actually accepting and sympathetic of the fact which I thought was cool and refreshing after dealing with people that look down on you and look at you funny. Again,not EVERYBODY is a mean, self centered, egotistical, head up their asshole idiot but they are out there. But this lady was so down to Earth and noticed that I was too and so we hit it off. I had told her I lost everything even the shirt off my back, literally. All I have is a black sweater hoody jacket, long camouflage pants, a pair of Nike sneakers and ONE sock, I lost the other one. I'm glad my ass is attached to me, otherwise,I'd probably end up losing that. I still have my mind, I think. After she heard that pathetic story, she handed me a 20 dollar bill, I was shocked and thankful. We continued to shoot the shit about life and how we couldn't understand why people look down on other people when we are all human beings but some people think they are better than others. I had mentioned how I loved music and music was my life and how I missed the radio I had lost (I wasn't fishing!) and she asked where can we get the radio and I told her Walgreens has them and she said, "O.K. we going to Walgreens and getting you another radio!" I said, "No, I can't let you do that" She said, "Nope, we gettin you a radio, where is Walgreens at?" and we proceeded to walk to Walgreens and she bought me the radio for 25 bucks. I felt so guilty but yet so blessed and grateful, I wanted it so bad that I was planning on stealing it. But they had a lock on it and I don't like stealing. I walked her back to her hotel and gave her a hug and thanked her so much. She said she was going to clean up and that she would be back out but I haven't seen her again. We both still don't know each other's name. But we both know it was an act of GOD and fate that we met. It's a beautiful thing that gives me hope and belief that things will get better in time. Meanwhile, I found out my road dog Billy has been arrested for consuming alcohol in public you can check it out at www.whosarrested.com under William Howard, I haven't seen him since. If I don't see the "green" people tonight, I feel I need to go back to Key West to get my I.D. while I still have a few bucks to make it there on the bus. Murphy hopefully stays out of jail and I can find him in Key West, he will be able to help me. Until the next move, I will let you know of my whereabouts and latest happenings. Remember to have fun as you only live once..Peace Out






Saturday, June 2, 2012

Reach For Miami Beach

Been staying in downtown Miami for about a week now with Billy, sleeping under the Park West Metro mover station and it's actually been working out pretty good, the cops just drive by and the Metro security cops just walk by and don't say anything, very contrary to the Key West P.D. The main problem with Miami is that in order to get shelter you have to call a 1-800 number and see if they have any beds available which they haven't and they just tell you to call back in a couple of hours and keep checking and they always say they are full. My main problem though is I lost my I.D., ATM card, Food Stamp card, Library card, my radio and I don't have a dime in my pocket. This has been one of the most trying times in my life. But I still love Miami's atmosphere and am willing to make it happen. I know once I get on my feet again, I will be able to get a job and a place to live. I haven't lost hope yet, but it has been a very challenging time. One major problem in Miami is there are very few soup kitchens and you have to jump through hoops to get food. Billy and I got fed up with dealing with the security at the door of some of these soup kitchens that we decided to walk to Miami Beach where another K.O.T.S. patron we know is staying in Miami Beach at a shelter for the disabled. His name is Lefty, he lost his left arm and he gets a check on the 3rd and we figured he could help us out until we got our food stamps that don't kick in until the 7th. So after walking across the MacArthur Causeway (about 5 miles) we found Lefty but his check didn't come in until the 3rd we were hoping it would be on the 1st. So then I researched the library about the homeless services in Miami Beach and walked down to the office on 17th St. explained my situation and they told me to tell them where I sleep at night so that the "green" people can come find me within 24 to 48 hours to verify that I am homeless in Miami Beach. Which I thought was crazy but I guess people from Miami claim to be homeless in Miami Beach for some reason, which makes no sense to me because there are no shelters, food banks or soup kitchens in the city of Miami Beach. The only thing I can think of is you can get on the list to get into a shelter quicker with less competition. There are only 2 churches that serve food on Saturday only in Miami Beach. It's ridiculous, what about the other 6 days. I have resorted to shoplifting candy bars and getting lucky and finding or having somebody give me food off the street. It is pathetic. But I can't bring myself to ask anybody for change or food. I know if I don't ask I will never get but I guess it's a pride thing I can't do it but I did come up with an idea of playing buckets on the side of the street. Just yesterday I found an old sea grape branch lying in the park and it was about the right size to break in two and make a pair of drumsticks in which I did, they were a little big but they worked. I went down to Washington and Lincoln road to play my sticks on the ground and see if I couldn't play for some change. Unbeknownst to me, they were having a grand opening for TD bank on that same corner and TD bank had 3 drummers in the street banging on a big plastic garbage can and wooden stools but I didn't let that deter me I sat down with my Styrofoam to-go food container open and put the only change I had, 3 pennies, in there, so people would know I was looking for change and sure as shit, in about 15 minutes I had made 2.50. 2 dollars from a lady and 50 cents from a black dude just by playing on the concrete ground with 2 branches off of a tree. I couldn't believe it and it gave me hope and now I am searching for a bucket and some better sticks and hope for better weather, it's been raining a lot lately. Yesterday also, somebody bought me a beer at the bus stop, I ran across the street and retrieved it from the store, sat down, opened it up, took 2 sips and a Miami Beach cop walks up and says to pour it out. So of course, I oblige and then he asked me if I was waiting for the bus and I said I was and he told me to get off of Washington Ave. He didn't even run my I.D. in which I don't have anyway but in Key West they would of gave me the third degree. I went to sleep in my parking spot and I awoke to Miami Beach police on ATV's driving by telling me I got to get up and they drove on. That is one of the beauties of living up here as opposed to living down plus Miami has some of the most beautiful women in the world I have ever seen,... anyway my time is about to run out at the Miami Beach library,  ...:0 until the next adventure.....I'm in MIAMI BEACH BITCH !!!